Apparatus for milling bolsters of knives or similar articles



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. JOHNSTON. APPARATUS ROR MILLING ROLSTRRS 0I KNIVES 0R SIMILAR ARTICLES.

R/ MAMMARIA I! We@ I' @fen/Z0 r.

n4: wams verras co.,` mnmumo., Mmmm. n. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N MOI l.)

0 [e A. JOHNSTON. APPARATUS FOR MILLING BOLSTERS OP KNIVES 0B. SIMILAR ARTICLES. No. 600,426. Patented Mar. 8,1898.

Fay/5,

Tnt. aims PETERS ca. gewinn-c.. was-Immun. D. c

Nrritn .STATES- ATnNr rrrcn.

ALLEN JOHNSTON, OF OTTUMVVA, IOIVA.

APPARATUS FOR MILLING BOLSTERS OF KNIVES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,426, dated March 8, 1898. Application filed Mey 6, 1897l Renewed February 16, 1898. Serial No. 670,593. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ wiz-0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN JOHNSTON, of Ottumwa, Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Milling the Bolsters of Knives or Similar Articles, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to processes of and apparatus for milling that part of table-cutlery commonly called the bolster, which on a table-knife, for example,cousists of a groove or grooves and a flange or flanges separating the handle from the blade.

The main object I have in view is to form the groove and properly shape the top or periphery of the flange.

The improved process forming part of this invention consists in first shaping the handle of the knife by suitable means and then employing the previously-shaped handle as a form or gage in shaping the groove and flange of the bolster.

In the improved machine constructed in accordance with my invention I employ a rotating milling-cutter mounted to revolve or travel around the knife and held against the latter by yielding pressure, a suitable stop being provided which is adapted to make contact with a suitable form or gage-such, for example, as the previously-shaped handle of the knife-whereby the extent of milling is determined and injury to the product from excessive milling avoided.

Another important feature of my invention consists in holding the knife in a stationary chuck and causing the rotating milling-cutter to revolve or travel thereabout instead of having a stationary cutter and revolving a rotatend elevation, partly in section, looking from the left of Fig. l and Fig. 4 is an elevation.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the main framework, mounted upon a suitable pedestal, the upper end of which is shown at A and formed in part by a horizontal cylindrical casing A2, open at both ends. A cylinder B extends through casing A2 and is adapted to rotate therein, said cylinder being longitudinally recessed to receive frame C, pivoted thereto at c and actuated by a spring c2, secured to the cylinder. Frame C alsoihas a recess c in the end thereof, into which the knife-blade projects during the milling of the bolster.

A shaft D extends longitudinally through frame C to one side of recess c and at its outer extremity carries a inilling-cutter E, having a flat part c for milling the ange of the bolster and a curved ridge e for milling the groove, and a disk or washer E of less diameter than the greatest diameter of wheel E. Secured to the end of cylinder B byscrews f (see Fig. 3) and recessed at f to fit about the end of frame C and leave recess c uncovered is a plate F, which bears against the end of casing A2 during rotation of the cylinder.

Cylinder B is rotated from its end opposite that in which recess c is located by a sunand-planet gearing consisting of a toothed annulus g about the end of casing A2, a gearwheel G, contiguous to said annulus, mounted on a shaft H, loosely bearing in and projecting from cylinder B, and a small gear I, mounted on and rotating with pulley K, fixed on shaft H and driven from any suitable source of power.

K is a loose pulley mounted on the hub of pulley K.

By forming annulus g with one tooth more than wheel G every revolution of gear I thereabout causes a slight rotation of cylinder B.

Shaft D, carrying the milling-cutter, is rotated from shaft II by means of pinions d h.

From the foregoing description the mechanism for rotating and revolving the millingcutter will be clearly understood.

The mechanism for holding and presenting the knife to the milling-cutter will next be described.

lOO

L is a bar or frame rigidly secured to the side of cylindrical casing A2, projecting beyond the latter at one end and formed with a sleeve Z, in which a spindle M has its bearing. The bar L has a longitudinal recess Z' therein adjacent to casing A?, in which recess slides a latch m, having at one end a lateral projection m', against which bears a spring Z3, housed in a recess in bar L, and at the other end a lateral projection m2, the spring Z3 exerting its tension to force latch m toward the left, Fig. 2, tending to hold the projection m2 in contact with the face of plate F. y

N is a swinging arm secured to one end of spindle M and extending along the front of bar or frame L and has secured to its inner face at its free end a plate n, having a curved inner edge provided with a shoulder at n', as

shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4, against which. latch m is adapted to engage to hold the arm i in a fixed position. (See full lines, Fig. 4E.)

O is a spring secured to the under side of arm N and bearing at its free end against a pin o, projecting from bar L, the tendency of the spring being to force the arm upward upon the latch being disengaged from engagement with shoulder n', which disengagement is effected by the inclined head of screw 3o f2, secured in the head F near the edge thereof, engaging under projection m2 and causing latch m to slide to the left, Fig. 2, upon cylinder B, making a complete revolution. The arm N is drawn down for engagement of shoulder 'n' under the latch by any suitable means, such as a treadle or lever, (not shown,) connecting with a rod P, pivoted to arm N at p.

Q is a belt-shifter pivoted to frame A and also pivoted at q to rod P,whereby upon the upward movement of arm N the belt is shifted from fast pulley K to loose pulley K.

At its other end (arm N being secured to one end) spindle M carries a plate R, recessed to receive jaws S S', constituting the chuck for holding the knife, the former or iixed jaw S being rigidly secured to the plate. The upper or movable jaw S is held in place by screws s s, the heads of which rest against springs s s in countersunk recesses in the upper edge of plate R, the tendency of the springs being to move jaw S away from jaw S.

T is a screw having a hand-wheel t at its upper end engaging in a threaded opening in plate Rand bearing against jaw S.

U is a gage adj ustably secured in the lower portion of plate R by a set-screw u, against which the end of the handle of the knife rests to determine the proper position of the latter in the holder.

In operation the knife to be operated upon having been secured in place between the jaws S S the arm N is drawn down against the tension of spring O by means of connecting-rod P until latch m engages under shoulder n', the knife being at the same time lowered into contact with the milling-cutter E and the belt (not shown) shifted from loose pulley K to fast pulley K, thus throwing the machine into operation. As the milling-cutter is rotated and revolved or caused to travel around the knife by means already fully described it is yieldingly held against the same through the tension of spring c2, as will be clearly understood, the disk E', by coming in contact with' the handle of the knife, preventing the milling being carried too far and determining the depth of the groove and the extent to which the top of the Iiange is cut away. Upon the milling cutter making a complete revolution about the knife the inclined head of screw f 2 comes into action, disengagingthe latch m from shoulder n', permitting arm N to be raised by spring O, lifting the knife from the milling-wheel, and actuating the belt-shifter to transfer the belt from the fast to the loose pulley, stopping the machine.

It will of course be understood that my invention is not limited to the precise construction and details herein described, as modifications may be made within wide limits without departing from the principle of my invention.

Furthermore, while I have in the foregoing description and claims referred particularly to the milling of the bolsters of knives the invention is equally applicable to the milling of bolsters of other articles of table-cutlery.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a milling-machine for milling the bolsters of knives and similar articles, the combination with means for holding the knife, of a milling-cutter held against the knife by yielding pressure, means for rotating said cutter and means for causing said cutter to travel or revolve around the knife, substantially as described.

2. In a milling-machine for milling the bolsters of knives and similar articles, the combination with means for holding the knife, of a milling-cutter held against the knife by yielding pressure, means for rotating said cutter, means for causing said cutter to travel or revolve around the knife, and a stop adapted to make contact with a suitable form to determine the extent of action of the millingcutter, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for milling the bolsters of table-knives and similar articles, the combination with means for holding the knife, of a milling-cutter held against the knife by yielding pressure, means for rotating said cutter, means for causing said rotating cutter to travel or revolve around the knife, and a stop adjacent to the cutter adapted to make contact with the previously-shaped handle to determine the extent of action of the millingcutter, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for milling the bolsters of table-knives and similar articles, the combi- ICO IIO

nation With means for holding the knife, of a milling-cutter the operating-surface of which has a straight part for milling the top of the iiange of the bolster and a curved ridge for forming the groove, said cutter being held against the knife by yielding pressure, means for rotating the cutter, means for causing the cutter to travel or revolve around the knife, and a stop adjacent to the cutter adapted to make contact Wi th the previouslyshaped handle to determine the form and height of the iiange, and the form and depth of the groove of the bolster, substantially as described.

5. In a bolster-milling machine, the combination with a Work-holder for holding a knife, of a milling-cutter held in contact with said knife by yielding pressure, means for rotating said cutter, means for revolving or causing said rotating cutter to travel around the knife While in contact therewith, and means for automatically throwing the milling-cut ter and knife ont of contact at a predetermined point in the operation, substantially as described.

6. In a bolster-milling machine, the combination With a Work-holder for holding a knife, of a milling-cutter held in contact With said knife by yielding pressure, means for rotating said cutter, means for revolving or causing said rotating cutter to travel around the knife While in contact therewith, and a circular disk on the axis of the cutter contiguous thereto, the peripheral surface of which is adapted to make contact With the previously-shaped knife-handle in determining the form of the bolster, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALLEN JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

CHAUNGEY A. SHERMAN, FANNIE C. CHURCH. 

